A shooting incident at a private school just north of Edinburgh. Two seventeen-year olds killed by an ex-Army loner who has gone off the rails. As Detective Inspector John Rebus puts it, theres no mystery...except the why. But this question takes Rebus into the heart of a shattered community. Ex-Army himself, Rebus becomes fascinated by the killer, and finds he is not alone. Army investigators are on the scene, and wont be shaken off. The killer had friends and enemies to spare - ranging from civic leaders to the local Goths - leaving behind a legacy of secrets and lies. Rebus has more than his share of personal problems, too. Hes fresh out of hospital, hands heavily bandaged, and he wont say how it happened. Could there be a connection with a house-fire and the unfortunate death of a petty criminal who had been harrassing Rebuss colleague Siobhan Clarke? Rebuss bosses seem to think so...